I found the new Generation
Girl™ "My Room" Barbie® at Target right before
Christmas. Purchased solely to see if any news could be
discovered about the Generation Boys! Upon deboxing, I discovered
Issue #3 of the Generation Beat™ Magazine. You won't be happy to
hear that Generation Girl Blaine™ has been
omitted from this issue entirely. Ana Suarez™
from Mexico City, Mexico (athlete) a character present in the first
edition but omitted from the second edition, now takes Blaine
Gordon™
doll's place to make the typical "six" doll
set. Chelsie Peterson™
from London, England (singer) is
also not represented, but may become a TRU SSE, like she was offered
in her second edition. If she is added again, she will become
one of the "core" Generation Girls™. The
"core" girls are the versions that have been represented in
all three editions so far. Barbie Roberts®,
Los Angeles, CA (amateur photographer and actress), Nichelle
Williams™ New York, NY (fashion model), Tori Burns™ Sydney,
Australia (champion snowboarder and in-line skater) and Lara
Morelli-Strauss™ Paris, France (artist) make up the core dolls of
this line. All the girls "write" their own stories for
the magazine filled with easy tips on decorating your room.
issue #3 is centered solely around the "My Room" theme.

Above: Generation
Beat™ Magazine Issue #3. Cool, but not so cool without
Blaine™!

News started to trickle in on the 22nd
concerning any boys being added to the line this year. At first,
confirmation was given that indeed Blaine™ has been
discontinued in 2001. Then with a little more investigative
work, another listing for Blaine™ was discovered. When I
pressed a little further, I was given two more names: Trevor (Asian)
and Rigo (Hispanic). So what does this all mean and where
are the boys? Unfortunately, I didn't get much further. I can
only conclude that there very well may be two Generation Girl™ lines
this year! The "My Room" line is box dated 2000 and is
tied in with a "Cool Room Sweepstakes" sponsored by
Mattel. You can fill out the official entry form (in the back of
the Generation Beat™ magazine), send in a 3x5 card or download one
from http://www.generationgirl.com.
You have to choose your favorite GG character. 6 grand prize
winners receive a selection of furniture and accessories (maximum
retail $10,000) resembling the contents of your favorite Generation
Girl™ doll's
room. 10 first prizes computer and monitor chosen by sponsor
(value $1,000) 15 second prizes "Generation Girl
World" prize package (all six "My Room" dolls value
$250). if I weren't too old I would certainly enter.
Nichelle® doll's room looks to be the coolest!
Just a bit of personal trivia, Nichelle® is also
my favorite GG girl. I just thought I would add that
since I can't enter. Of course if Blaine™ had his own room I
would be all for him!

I think the "My Room" line is made for
the sweepstakes promotion. I still believe we will see another
line later in the year. Also remember that this line is being
released sooner than the standard line did last year, leaving the rest
of the year for new product.

The GG
"My Room" Barbie® version (model #28986) I bought was pretty
easy to put together and only required scotch tape. There are
not too many accessories which I found disappointing. I wish
most of the stuff that is artistically rendered on the walls and floor
would have been real play pieces. I was also disappointed to
discover that Barbie has a TNT waist, not the new Jewel Girl™ body
mold. This line needs this body mold and I was surprised that it
doesn't have it since most dolls in the 2001 line will. I also
found that out of all the rooms, this one is the most spiritless.
The only funky piece is the "space-age" television with VCR
tape. The other rooms are more interesting. Maybe Mattel
rationalized that Barbie® doll's character is staying with the Jenner
family in NY, so maybe this is the reason. FYI, Movie Date Ken
would fit in nicely for a visit with his popcorn box, drink and movie
tickets, since she has her bowl of popcorn and drink cup. If I would of
spotted
it, I would have bought the Nichelle® version. Her room is more like a
"My Dressing Room" than a "My Room". She
also has the best taste in furniture design and symmetry. Her
bed is a fainting bed extension from her couch. Nichelle® brings
"a fashion sense to her room". Ana™ is back and brings
a beach motif to her room complete with a blow-up raft (and pillow)
for her bed. I loved the miniature aquarium! Super sport
Tori™ has a loft bed (with fuzzy pillow and ladder), leaving room for
her cool floor chair and scooter on the floor portion of her room. Lara™ doll's room is romantic
with "wrought iron" bed, art easel and art
accessories. The last room is Mari™ (pronounced Mă-ree; long a)
who doesn't have a bed at all. Her room is my second favorite
which is "totally techno". Who wouldn't want to sit
down in the computer chairs and play games with the miniature game
controllers?

Until I receive more news, which will
be soon I hope, we will have to wait to see if Mattel shows another GG
line at Toy Fair 2001. I know the new boys (known then as Winn
and Alfonso) were shown at Pre-Toy Fair 2001 in Arizona earlier this
year. I know the buyer who actually saw them. Let's cross our fingers that the "My Room" line
is a vehicle for promotional purposes only! There is certainly room
for two versions in the same year. Also, 10 GG line dolls or
versions are listed for 2001. I thought it was interesting that
this post from Nadia on the old Keeping Ken BB pretty much sums up my personal assumption. "We already
know that Barbie®, Lara™, Ana™, Nichelle®, Tori™ and Mari™ are lined up for
the GG My Room Line. The addition of Blaine™, Rigo, and Trevor sums up
a total of nine dolls. The tenth doll is probably Chelsie™. She could
be a TRU exclusive for next year, which is why they wouldn’t include
her in the direct market. Think about it: Barbie® focuses on a “film
motif,” Lara™ an “artist motif” Ana™ a “beach motif” etc. A
“music motif” would fit perfectly in the GG My Room line. And yes
I know that there is no sign of “Chelsie™” at the back of
Barbie® doll’s box, but just remember that Chelsie™ was excluded from the
GG magazine covers, and boxes of every Dance Party™ doll except her
own".

I think this post from Gerald also is
steering in the right direction: "I
think that they are going to make two lines this year that focus on
the Generation Girls™. If I remember correctly, the previous two times
that a new Gen Girl line was released the first sightings started
around early spring/March. It's not even January and there has already
been a Barbie® sighting. I think Mattel will try to capitalize on next
years holiday season and bring out a 2001/2002 for the 2001 holiday
season and maybe then that's when they will introduce the new guys and
bring back Chelsie™. Also, only one set of fashions has been introduced
so far for 2001. I doubt that only one line will be marketed. I'll
keep my fingers crossed for two lines of Gen Girls in 2001!"